Ermon Lane 85% committed to Florida

LAKE BUENA VISTA– Day one of the 2014 Under Armour game practice is in the books and the biggest thing Ermon Lane (6-3, 193, Homestead, FL Homestead) did might not have been on the field, but rather what he said off of it.

The most tense recruiting battle of the 2014 cycle is the three-way tug of war between Florida, Florida State and Miami for Lane’s best friend, running back Dalvin Cook.

Cook has been committed to Florida since April, but his pledge has been far from firm since that time. Lane says he knows where Cook is planning to go to college, but was told to keep it a secret.

As far as Lane’s own recruitment, it seems he’s following Cook’s lead in testing other waters while still staying verbally committed to UF. On January 31st, Lane says he will take an official visit to Florida State. He is waiting so late in the game by rule because he has yet to take his ACT or SAT.

“They’re getting a visit because the last couple of months they’ve been recruiting me hard, harder than all the other colleges,” Lane said.

Despite the relationship with Cook, Lane said he might not follow him to college, if the situation isn’t right.

“Well if I feel like that’s not the best place for me I won’t be attending the school that [Cook] attends,” Lane said.

In his own words, he’s 85% committed to Florida at the present time and that the Gators as well as the Miami Hurricanes visited him in his home during the contact period in early January. Lane said UF defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and wide receivers coach Joker Phillips visited him and talked Academics with his mother. He hasn’t met new Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper yet, but he’s seen him at Duke and how Roper ran the Blue Devils’ offense there. While he may not have spoken to Roper, he knows one thing about him for certain, and it’s of the utmost importance to him.

“I know he spreads the ball around and can get it to the playmakers,” Lane said. “All playmakers like a coach like that.”

Richard lives in Gainesville and prides himself in being a bonafide lifelong Alachua County Resident. He attends the University of Florida and is in his third year studying Telecommunications. He isn’t sure how he started loving football being the son of two immigrants that don’t care about the sport, but he has developed a borderline unhealthy obsession with it. In his free time, Richard watches other sports and is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Tampa Bay Rays. He doesn’t like chocolate, knows Moe’s is better than Chipotle and drinks way too many Arnold Palmers. He also took up golf in the summer of 2012. That pursuit isn’t going well. You can listen to him talk about sports during the Cheapseats radio show on ESPN 850-WRUF or online at WRUF.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RagjUF.

GC Instagram

Since 1997 Gator Country's been the most trusted authority on all Florida Gators sports. Join the most active Gators forums and get the real inside scoop on Florida football, recruiting, basketball, baseball and all University of Florida athletics!